Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-07-02

v
From 1857 to 1861, slave labor pro-
duced eighteen millions of bales OF
cotton from 1878 to 1882, twenty
seven millions, difference of nine
millions, valued at three hundred
millions of dollars.
What has he acquired and saved
during the last twenty years. 1t has
been predicted by the masters whom
supported with his labor, that if de-
prived of that precious privilege, he
would become thriftless and impro
vident. But he, from absolute pow
erty in 1865, has saved one hundred
and thirty millions of dollars in taxa
BILE property in the slave states alone,
without one acre in 1866, to-day he
owns two millions, six hundred
Thousand acres in the south.
These facts considered in the light
of the difficulties with which he has
been handicapped, appear almost
marvellous.
Let us inquire into his education
al progress. When the war closed,
the race, as whole was illiterate.
But when the schools of the land
were opened to him, mark the intense
zeal with which he pursued his stud
les. From the illiterate slave, he has
developed into the intelligent free
man.
The statistics of the commissioner
of education show that of the school
population of over two millions in
the south, over one half attend school.
There are nineteen Thousand pub
lie schools, fifty eight normal schools,
forty-seven schools of secondary in
struction, twenty-five universities and
colleges, twenty-eight schools of the
ology, four of law, three of medicine,
and nine schools for the deaf, dumb,
and blind, making total of nineteen
thousand, one hundred and eighty
one schools having an enrolment of
over one million, in the southern
states alone.
It has been asserted that,in state
of freedom, he would die out. At
the close of the war, the rece num-
bered four millions; that number has
now increased to seven millions. This
increase, especially under such ad-
verse circumstances show his great
inherent vitality, and proves not on
ly that he does not intend to be ex-
tinguished, but also that he leads in
productive power.
Thus if in all the essential elements
of progress, he has advanced so much
in twenty years, what limit can be
put to his future progress?
A century hence, he shall have
reached the same intellectual and
moral attainments as his fairer neigh
Dor, and the race prejudice, which is
now so prevalent, will be dispelled.
There will be such harmony of &C |
ton between the two races, as to con-
duce to the prosperity of the whole 4,
country.
He will assume his place in the |
National Legislature, and there will |
cooperate in making wise and proyi- |
dent measures for his country.
Rise, son of toll, thy darkness fades away, |
And for thee, there rises brighter day
Grid on thine armor, and play thy part.
With manly courage, aud cheerful heart.
And now, classmates, the time has
come for us to say farewell to one
another, as pupils of the High School.
For three years we have pursued
together the paths of knowledge; we
have culled the flowers of Rhetoric
we have solved the intricate problems
of Algebra and Geometry, through
History we have held converse with
the sages of the past 5000 years, we
have studied the language of the
Cicero, and of fair and love-
ly France, and lest, but not least, we
have held sweet communion with the
beautiful classics of our own litera-
ture- Milton, Shakespeare, Tenny